Beehive inspection and elevating apparatus



"Fb. l4, 7 1928. 1,658,957

H. L. WHITNEY ET AL BEEHIVE INSPECTION AND ELEVATING APPARATUS v Filedbec. 20. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS:

V /0 34 TTORNEYS.

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Feb. 14, 1928.

, 1,658,957 H. L. WHITNEY ET AL BEEHIVE INSPECTION AND ELEVATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 14, 1928. i

uu reo STATES PATENT Q FZI HARRY L. WHITNEY AND Ross n. WYANT, or TOLEDQ OH-IO.

BEEHIVE insrno'rioiv AND nLnvA'rINe APPARATUS.

Application filed December This invention relates to apparatuslfor use 1n bee culture operations, and 1s particularly designed forvuse by beekeepers in the manipulation of. bee hives at such times as I anvof the remainingsections of the hive.

As one form of Construction for embodying these improvements, we have devised a framework having clamping means for quickly and conveniently engaging one -of the lower sections of the hive, and also including a movable frame likewise including clamping means for engagement with one of theupper sections of the hive, together with efficient means for quickly elevating the movable frame and therebyseparating the upper bee hive sections fromthe lower sections to which'the main frame has been clamped.

Further objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a' selected embodiment of the invention. e V

lViththese general objects in view, therefore, the invent-ion will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, after which those features and combinations deen'ied to be novel will be particularly set fourth and claimed.v

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, illustrating a bee hive inspection and elevating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; p V r e V V Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same, but with the bee hive clamping means represented as having been operated'to clamp the selected sections of the hive;

Figure 3 is anirregular horizontal sectional view, illustrating both sets of the clamping deviees in clamping engagement with the bee hive;

Figures i and 5 are sectional detailviews,

20, 1926. Serial No. 156,025. 7

representing, sections taken on the lines IVI'V and V'-V, respectively, of Figure 3; and p v Figure 6 is a detail view, with broken lines, representing different operative posi tions of oneof the eccentric meansfor actuati ng the clamping devices.

Referring now to the saidl drawings in detail, these il lust'rates the improved apparatusas comprising what may be termed a main frame made up of any suitable material, such as angle .iron framework, and including at lower or base/frame portion 10 which is substantially of U shape, asshown in Figure 3,?so asto adapted the same to be applied to therear of a hive and permit the sides of the frame to pass-overor across the sides ofthe bee hive sections or supers 12, as required for the later steps of the operation. Preferably, the framework is made, ample insize in order to provide plenty. of room between it and the hive, thereby facilitating the work of inspecting the hive both from the front and rear, and thus also facilitating any operations necessary in the removal and replacement of Y supers. I 7 At the rear of the lower or base frame portion 10 are provided .the upright frame members is equal inheight to the maximum height of hives with which the apparatus may be used,the upper portions of said members l lextending forwardly, as shown in Figure 1, and having their forward ends secured to upright guide rods 15, the lower end portions of which are secured to the lower or base frame portion 10. i I

Upon the vertical guide rods 15 are mounted a pair of vertically sliding sleeves 16 which serve to support the movable super clamping frame which comprises a U-sl'iaped frame member 17 having the angular-1y arranged "brace ,orstay rods 18 connecting said'frame 17 with the upper portions of thesleeves 16 (see Figure 1). V The upper ends of said sleeves 16 are also provided with collars 20 for the attachment of lifting cables 22 operating around pulleys or sheaves e23 journaled in brackets 24,- at the upper Ill? crank 27 in-winding up the cables 22, and thereby elevating the frame 17 to the desired height. One end portion of the shaft is fitted with a ratchet element 28 engaged by a suitable pawl 29 in such a manner as to hold the shaft 25 against reverse rotation, and hence retain the movable frame 17 elevated, until said pawl'29 is disengaged from the ratchet 28, for unwinding of the cables 22.

At the front corners of the lower or base portions 10 of the main framework are provided clamping'devices comprising movable clamp members 32 swinging on vertical pivot pins 33 and actuated by springsii (Figure 4:) into normally open position, as illustrated in Figure 1. .These clamp devices are so arranged as to be swung, by means of cables 35 into engagement with the front corners of a super or hive section 12, as shown in [Figure 3, the clamp members being preferably linedwitlrsuitable friction material 36,:rdapted to securely engage the face of the super,wit-hout slipping, and at the same time prevent marring or scratching the surface of the hive. The cables 35 are attached to the clamp members by means of eyebolts 3"? engaging leaf sprii carried by the clamp members and designed to maintain the cables 35 always in a taut condition, and at the same time permit the cable lengths to be adjusted as required. These cables are carried round pulleys or sheaves 40 at the corners of the frame work 10, and thence they are carried and attached to suitable sheave segments d2 secured to the opposite ends of a rocker shaft 43 journaled in hanger brackets s 4 carried by the upper portions of the frame members 14-, adjacent to the shaft 25. The intermediate portion of the shaft 4.3 is provided with a suitable operating handle 45 shown in lowered or clamp releasing posi tion in Figure 1, and inraised or clamp applying position in Figure 2. The center of the sheave segments &2 is so arranged with reference to the center of the rocker shaft 43 that inthe operation of the handle 45 the cables 35are swung past center (of said shaft 43) in the operation of the handle 4:5 to the raised position shown in Figure 2, thus in effect locking all the partswith the clamp members 32 in the position illus trated in Figure 3.

The front corners of the movable frame 17 are likewise provided with clamp members 32 similarly mounted to swing upon pivot pins 33 into either the open position shown in Figure 1 or the closed position shown in Figures 3 and 4-, and operated into the latter position by means of cables 35 connected to the clamp members 32 by means of bolts 37 and leaf springs 38. The other ends of these cables '35 are attached to similar sheave segments 4&2 carried by the opposite ends carried by the rear of said movable frame 17. The sheave segments l2 are actuated about the axis of the shaft l3 by means of either of a pair of handle members 48 c0nnected with said sheave segments, the arrangement being such that in the movement of said handles 13 from lowered position, corresponding to the open position of the clamp members 32, into upright position as shown in Figures 2 and 3, corresponding to the closed position of said clamp members, the cables 35 are swung across or past center (of said shaft 4e3),'as represented by the broken lines in Figure 6, thus in effect looking the parts in this relation, and holding the clamp members 32 in engagement with the corners of the selected super or hive section 12.

Preferably, the lower clamp operating cables 35 arranged to swing into engagement with a pair of safety catch elements 50 mounted in brackets 52 carried by the lower or base portion 10 of the frame, (see Figure 5) each of said eleme ts'aO' being provided with a spring element 53 operating to maintain the catch element 50 normally in out ward or inoperative position. The arrangement is such that the lower cables 35'swing inward toward the hive, in response to the inward swinging movement of the corresponding clamp members 32, said cable's'engage and actuate the catch elements 50 into engagement with the sides (or ends) of the super or hive section 12, the purpose being to engage the free ends of the elements 50 with the hand holes 5 1- with which the supers are commonly provided.

Similarly, the cables 35 for operating the upper clamp members 32 areidesigned to en gage similar safety catch devices 50 pivotally carried by brackets 52 provided on. the inside of the movable frame 17 (see Figure 5). The catch members 50 are presented in upwardly projecting relation (in contrast to the downwardly projecting catch members 50) whereby, on inward movement of the upper cables 35 in response to the inwardly swinging movement of the camp members 32, the catch members 50 are engaged and actuated into position to be carried into the hand holes 54 of the corresponding super, as illustrated in Figure 5. As with the catch members 50, the catch members 50" are also actuated normally into inoperative position by means of spring elements 53, Obviously, the action of the lower catch devices 50 is to prevent the apparatus from slipping below certain pointupon the lower super or bee hive section, whereas the other safety catch elements 50 have the opposite action of preventing or limiting the slippingof'the movable frame 17 and its parts in an upward direction after engagement of the clamp members 32 with the selected super.

The inside of the framework 10, as well as of the movable frame 17, at those points where they are brought into engagement with the hive sections 12 are also lined with the friction material 36, similar to that with which the clamp members 32 and 32? are lined, and for the same purpose.

For facilitatingthe centering of the framework with reference to the hive, in applying the apparatus into operative position, the

the open side of the framework opposite the hive, and with the clamping devicesswung into outward or open position as shown in Figure 1, the framework is moved into position embracing the rear and sides (or ends) of the hive, as illustrated in Figure 3,. this operation being facilitated by pressing with the knee upon the knee bracket 62, and the guidesLGO serving to center the framework about the hive. -Now after the framework has been elevated sufficiently forthe purpose of bringing the lower clamping devices 32 opposite to the super or hive section 12 which isselectedas thelowermost section to be left undisturbed while the remaining upper supers are to beraised therefrom, the handle is swung upwardfor actuating said devices 32 into firmly clamped engagement with the corners "of the super. Now the operator can release his'hold on the shaft 25 and, by simply operating one of the handles 48, actuatesthe corresponding clamping devices 32 into clamping engagement with one of the hive sections 12 or supers above that clamped by the devices 32.; As already eX- plained, these clamping means are automati- .cally locked and held securely after operation of the corresponding handles 45v and 41 8, and remain locked until released. by the reverse operation of the handles. -The crank 27 may now be rotated for raising the frame 17 and the super 12 engaged therewith to any desired elevation necessary for inspecting the separated supers or hive sections, and making any replacements that may be required, during which operation the pawl 29 retains the parts in elevatedtposition without any further attention on the part of the operator. By releasing the clamping devices 32 and further elevating the frame 17 and reclamping said devices, any super 12 maybe selected and elevated as required for completing the inspection and attention necessary for the particular hive in question.

It will thus be noted that by our improved apparatus the labor incident to such inspecting and elevating and replacement operation is reduced to a minimum, and likewise the'necessityoftearingdown a hive is eliminated, and likewisethe loss which has heretofore been incurred both in honey and in bees,due to excessive agitation involved in the tearing down and rebuilding ofthe hives.

' It will also be-noted that the frame memhere 14: project forwardly suffioientlyto bring the'lifting cables 22 in the vertical plane passing through, the centers of the hivesections, and to guard against any tendency to tip orrock the guide rods 15 and sheaves; 16 are provided and hence any swinging tendency of the suspended portion of thehive is effectively prevented. l Vhile wehave illustrated what we now regard as the preferred form of construction for embodyingthe proposed improvements, we expressly reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims. 7 hat weclaim is:

1.. Elevating apparatus for beehives, com

prising a main frame, means for rigidly clamping said frame to one of the lower hive sections, avertically movable frame slidingly connected with said main frame and having 7 means for clamping said movable frame to one of the upper hive sections, and means for raising and lowering. said movable frame.

2. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, comprising a main frame of U-shape in horizontal section, clamping means operable from the rear of said frame forclamping the same to the corners offone ofthe lower Hill hive sections, a, vertically movable frame slidingly connected with said main frame and having clamping means operable from the rear of theapparatus for clamping said movable frame to the corners ofone of the upper hive sections, and means also operable from the rear of the apparatus for raising and lowering said movableframe. I

3ifEleva-ting apparatus for bee hives, comprising a main frame, -meansfor rigidly clamping said frame to one of the lower hive sections, a movable frame having means t for clamping the sameto one of the upper hive sections, vertical guide means connect- ,ing said frames, and means for raising and lowering the said movable frame.

ff. Elevating apparatus for beehives, comprising a main frame vof U shape in horizontal section, means for rigidly clamping said frame to one ofthe lower hive sections, a movable U-shapedframe having means for clamping the same to one of the nppey hi sections, means forming vertical gUIdGWHyS for said movable frame at opposite sides of the main frame, and means for raising and lowering said movable frame. i

5. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, comrisin a main frame a verticall movable.

frame slidingly connected to. said main frame, pivoted clamping devices earned by ill each of said frames and movable into clamping engagement with the corners of the hive 's'octiongmeans for operating said clamping devices from the rear of the apparatus, and means for raising and lowering said movable frame.

F. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, com- .prising a main frame, a vertically movable frame slidingly connected to said main *an'ie, pivoted e amping devices carried by each of said frames and movable into clam],- lllQ engagement with the corners of the hive sections, means cv'nnprising cable connections from the rear of the apparatus for independently operatin said clamping devices, and means for ran in and lowering said movable frame.

7. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, comp: sing a main frame, a vertically movable me slidingly connected to said main frame, pivoted clamping devices carried by each of said fra nes and movable into clampin er 'cment with the corners ofthe hive ons, means for indepemlently operating said clamping devices from the rear of the apparatus ccmprising cables provided with yielding take-up elements connected witl aid de ices, and means for raising and lowering said movable frame.

8. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, comprising a main frame, a vertically movable franv siiding'ly connected to said main frame, pivoted clamping devices carried by each of said frames and movable into clampjin said momble frame, and safety catch elen'ients' carried by said main frame and adapted to engag said lower hive section.

ltllfllevating; apparatus for bee hives, comprising); a main frame, means for rigidly clamping said frame to one of the lower hive sections, a movable frame having means for clamping the same to one of the upper hive sections, means for raising and lowering said movable frame, and safety catch elements carried by said movable frame and adapted for engagement with said upper hive section.

11. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, comprising a main frame, means for rigidly clamping said frame to one of the lower hive sections, a movable frame having for clamping thesame to one of the upper hive sections, means for raising and lowering said movable frame, and oppositely acting safety catch elements carried by said frames and ada} ted for respective engagement with said upper and lower hive sections.

12. Elevating apparatus for bee hives,

comprising a main frame, a vertically movable frame slidingly connected to said main frame, clamping; devices carried by said main frame and movable into clamping engagement with the corners of one of the hive sections, means for operating said clamping devices into clamped position, and safety catch elements carried by saic main frame and adapted to be actuated by said clamp operating means into engagement with the sides of the hive sect-ion.

1S. Elevating apparatus for bee hives, comprising a main frame, a vertically movable frame slidingly connected to said main frame, clamping devices carried by said movable frame and movable into'clamping engagement with the corners of one of the hive sections, means for operating said clamping devices from the rear of the apparatus, and safety catch elements carried by said movable frame and adapted to be actuated by said clamp operating means into engagement with the sides of the hive section.

l l. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame provided with clamping devices adapted for engagen'ient with the corners of a bee hive section, cables operatively connected with said clamping devices, and safety spring-actuated catch elements adapted to be engaged and operated by said cables into engagement with the sides of the hive section.

In witness whereof we hereunto aliix our signatures.

HARRY L. lVHl ilNl lY.

ROSS E. WVYANT.

means 

